Its a bang out of memory lapse that can become even more common with age.
Thats why it can be easy to regard problems with memory or reasoning as a normal part of aging.
Neurons eventually stop working altogether, and the connections between them break down.
This degree of memory loss leaves them amnesic unable to remember new information.
They typically repeat, ask questions over and over, and rapidly forget what was said between questions.
Over time, thismemory losscan start to take a toll on daily life.
They may forget what they need at home and buy the wrong things.
They may make errors driving or get lost.
Then there was an award-winning chef who suddenly forgot how to make an omelet one morning.
In each case, tasks that had been easy for that particular person suddenly became impossible.
It comes across as, I cant get the words out, she explains.
Or, Her name is on the tip of my tongue.
People with MCI due to Alzheimers may also have trouble keeping up a conversation.
Think of your brain as a big warehouse, Leavitt explains.
Youve got all these little forklifts, and you send them off to aisle 9, row 47.
When it falls apart a little bit, thats normal, healthy aging.
But when that starts to fall apart a lot, that tends to be a signifier of Alzheimers.
You shouldnt wait to experience all the signs, she says.
A general doctor, neurologist, geriatrician, or psychiatrist can perform tests to evaluate cognitive functioning.
But, she adds, You have to put safety above everything else.
